The gospel for Thursday of the third week in ordinary time is taken from Mark 4:2125. Jesus said to his disciples, is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed and not to be placed on a lampstand? There is nothing hidden except to be made visible. Nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear. He also told them, take care what you hear.

The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. The one who has more will be given, for the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Many people wonder why God allows evil in the world. But what it is is an opportunity for us to face the illusion of what evil promises, to expose evil as corrupt and destructive. But the way it exists is usually below the surface. It’s not noticed, and it has tremendous power when it’s not seen for what it is.

And so the kingdom of God is about exposing evil for exactly what it is. And that’s the light of the Holy Spirit comes in and gives us wisdom, understanding, a way of seeing the world where evil makes no sense. That’s the reason it’s there, because it needs to come into the light and be named for what it is. Foreign. Father, give us the courage to look at things that are often hidden. Help us to reflect and see who we are and what we’re doing.

And ask the Spirit to awaken us to what is true and what is false, what is helpful and what is harmful. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.